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Science

The Enlightenment and science

The Enlightenment was a time of big ideas and bold challenges to tradition. Thinkers of the period believed society could be improved through reason. They called for changes like separating church and state and creating governments based on constitutions.

In science, Enlightenment thinkers promoted the power of rational thought. They questioned religious beliefs and superstitions, arguing that knowledge should come from reason and evidence. Scientists embraced the scientific method and began breaking complex ideas down into simpler parts to understand how the world worked.

The study of nature thrived during this time. Plants, animals, places and peoples were examined with fresh eyes and a logical approach, moving away from the mystical explanations of the past.

Linnaeus’ system

All natural things (plants, animals and minerals) can be described using the classification system developed by Linneaus.

  • Domain – Archaea, Bacteria, Eukarya
  • Kingdom – Animal, Plant, Fungi
  • Phylum – Chordata (with spinal cord), Arthropoda (jointed foot), Coniferophyta (plants with cones)
  • Class – Vertebrata (with vertebrae), Tetrapoda (with four limbs)
  • Order – Primates (first, highest rank), Carnivora (meat eaters), Artiodactyla (even-toed)
  • GenusHomo (man-like), Felis (small to medium cats), Canis (dog-like), Panthera (big cats)
  • SpeciesHomo sapiens (modern humans), Felis catus (domestic cats), Canis lupus (wolves)

Before Linnaeus, a tiger might have been described as a ‘four-legged, meat-eating animal that looks like a cat and has stripes’. Linnaeus grouped animals with shared traits into broader categories, like the big cat genus Panthera.

Linnaeus is remembered as the father of modern taxonomy and one of the founders of modern ecology. His ideas shaped how we understand and study the natural world. His legacy lives on through the Linnean Society, which still promotes research in natural history, evolution and taxonomy.

Learning activities

Use these activities to explore how we classify living things, the limits of scientific knowledge, and the unique biodiversity of Australia.

Activity 1: The value of classification systems

  • What are the advantages to having a formalised classification system for plants and animals?
  • What are the drawbacks? 

Critique the current system and suggest improvements.

Activity 2: Plant discovery and scientific limits

Between them, Banks and Solander catalogued over 30,000 new plant species. This increased the number of species known to Western science by 10%.

  • Is it possible that there are still such quantities of plant and/or animal species left on the planet to document?
  • Is it likely that we can reach ‘peak discovery’ (a point where we have discovered all there is to know)?
  • Have we already reached it? 

As a class, choose a standpoint, conduct further research and stage a debate.

Activity 3: Local flora study

Australia abounds with trees, shrubs and flowers found nowhere else on Earth.

  • Document the different species of plants found in your school, neighbourhood or community.
  • Work out which are native to Australia and which have been introduced.
  • Which species are endemic to your region?
  • Which are from other areas of Australia or abroad?

Compile a florilegium with the results.

Page published: 25 Jun 2025

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